Sign



April 1931- A. L. MORGAN 1,316

SIGN

Filed Feb. 23, 1928 INVENTOR. A/exander L Marya/r A TTORNEYS.

'nated sign equipped with my device, parts Patented Apr. 21, 1931 V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALEXANDER L. MORGAN, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR T0 DISPLAY PRODUCTS COMPANY, LIMITED, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, A. COMMON-LAW TRUST CON- SISTING OF ALEXANDER L. MORGAN, STANLEY M. COX, AND ELIZABETH O. MORGAN SIGN Application filed. February 23, 1928. Serial No. 256,273.

My invention relates to signs and more particularly to transparent signs, the principal objects being to support changeable display elements, such as letters, in association with permanent display elements in an illuminated sign in such a manner that no parts of the letters will be obscured.

Further objects are to provide a translucent letter-supporting element that may be supported by the frame of the sign and to mount the letter support in engagement with the transparent closures of an illuminated sign device.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an illumibeing broken away to disclose structures and enclosed elements.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of my translucent display-element support, illustrating the manner of joining a letter-engaging strip with the supporting sheet. Fig. 3 is a similar view of a portion of a letter supporting sheet illustrating a modified form of oppositely facing letter-engaging members having oppositely opening recesses.

Referring in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a housing containing a light 2 and a revoluble colored screen 3, and 4 a frame having a peripheral flange 5 engaging the housing and means including retaining strips 6 for supporting atransparency, such as a glass pane 7, in the frame opening. plurality of glass panes are provided. for my 7 purpose, a second and inner pane being designated 8. A transparent member 9 having display elements 10 relatively permanently fixed thereto, for example being imprinted thereon is supported between the two panes.

I provide a translucent sheet 11 for installation between the panes and for support thereby, adapted to support display elements 12 for independent service and particularly for association with the elements 10 on the transparent member 9. The elements 12 are preferably movable opaque members, such as cut-out letters formed from relatively thin material and will be referred to as letters. The translucent sheet is positioned behind the transparent member 9.

I provide special means for engaging the letters with the sheet 11 for support thereby, comprising preferably thin and narrow strips 13 of relatively flexible and translucent material, such as celluloid, arranged transversely of the sheet. Portions 14.- of the strips are connected with the sheet by means such as glue elements designated 15, whereby a marginal portion 16 of the strip is left free to constitute a wing or flange and provide a recess 17 to receive letter elements.

The free portions may be bent away from the sheet to admit the lower edge of a letter element, for support by the sheet, as in Fig. 2, or strips having oppositely opening recesses may be suitably spaced, for engaging both the upper and lower edges of letter elements.

Then the cooperating strips are installed, as V in the modified form illustrated in Fig. 3, I prefer to attach the upper horizontal portions of the strips to the sheet to provide for downwardly opening recesses between the attached strips and the sheet, and attach the lower portions of overlying strips to the upper portions of the laid strips whereby the upper portions of the overlying strips are spaced from the sheet by the thickness of the under strips providing channels or pockets 18 in which the lower edges of the letter elements may bereceived, while the upper edges of said elements are insertable behind the free edges of the sheet-attached strips.

In operating the device the translucent sheet may be removed from the frame as desired and display matter installed in the retaining elements, the sheet being easily returnable to the frame and supported and protected by the glass panes. The device provides, therefore, a convenient means for as sociating temporary messages and display indicia independently or in connection with matter imprinted upon the transparent member. All portions of the movable display elements are visible and their outlines distinctly observed because ofthe translucency of the supporting sheet and of the retaining strips.

What I claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is:

1. In adevic-e of the character described, supporting means, a translucent sheet supported by said supportingmeans, transverse strips having horizontal edges attached to the sheet and free edges movable away from the sheet and providing recesses for admittin-g display elements between said edges and the sheet, and other strips attached to ported by said supporting means, parallel strips having edges attached to the sheet and free edges movable away from the sheet to provide recesses, and other strips attached to the fixed portions of said first named strips and having free edges spaced from the sheet.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ALEXANDER L. MORGAN.

the fixed portions of said strips and having free edges spaced from the sheet and providing means to receive horizontal edges of display elements.

2. In an illuminated sign including a housing and a frame supported by the housing, a plurality of transparent panes supported by the frame,a transparent sheet provided with fixed display elements supported between the sheet, and other strips attached to the fixed strips and having free edges spaced from the sheet providing means to receive edges of display elements.

4. In a device of the character described, supporting means, a source of light mounted on said means, a translucent sheet supported by said supporting means, transverse strips formed of translucent material fixed to the 'sheet, and other strips formed of translucent material attached to the fixed strips and havo 1 ingtreeedgesspaced'from-the sheet pro vid ing means to receive edges of display elements. I

5. In an illuminated: sign including a frame having an opening for passage of light therethrough,a translucent sheet mounted in said opening, and opaque display elements, translucent" means extending across said open-ing and sheet for supporting said-display elements.-

6. In an illuminated sign including a frame, a source of light supported by the frame, a translucent sheet supported by the Jrframe for passage therethrough or" light from said source, translucent strips mounted on said sheet and display members supported by said strips.

7. Ina device of the character described, 7

La sheet, spaced strips fixed tothe sheet ha ing free edges, and other the first named strips and having free edges spaced from the sheet:

8. In a device of the character described vincluding supporting means, a sheet sup- Strips attached to 

